Tow handling system and method

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a filter rod making machine comprising disposing a plurality of stations laterally of the filter making machine, placing a bale of tow at each of the laterally disposed plurality of stations, drawing tow from above each of the placed plurality of bales into the filter rod making machine in succession, and upon depletion of tow from the placed plurality of bales, replacing the depleted plurality of bales as a set. The drawing of tow may include, for each bale, drawing tow from above the respective bale with a station guide operative at the respective, laterally disposed station and drawing the tow transversely from the respective station guide to a machine-based guide adjacent the filter rod making machine. The disclosure also provides associated apparatus, including a system for making a filter rod and a boom assembly of a tow conditioning section of a system for making a filter rod.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to tow processing machinery for producing filters for rod shaped smoking articles such as cigarettes, vaping articles, small cigars and the like. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to delivery of tow to filter rod making machines from tow bales.

ENVIRONMENT

The production of filter rods or other products from fibrous cellulose acetate tow may initiate with the feeding and operation of a tow conditioning apparatus, which may bloom and/or treat the tow with agents such as a plasticizer. At their tow receiving end, these conditioning apparatus may include a boom to guide a stream of tow into the apparatus and a space beneath the boom for placement of a single bale of tow. A strip (ribbon) of tow is drawn from the bale about an upper end portion of the boom and into the apparatus.

Upon depletion of tow from the bale, personnel may manually remove the container of the deleted bale from beneath the boom and move a fresh replacement bale into place. Such activity contributes an extra measure of downtime for the machine while the individual depleted bale container and the fresh bale are being moved manually one after another. Because the bales and their containers are rather large, heavy and unwieldly, manual replacement of single bales at the tow conditioning apparatus presents hazards and risks of injury to personnel.

However, despite recent advances, there remains an unmet need in the art to advance techniques for feeding tow-conditioning apparatus from tow bales, such that manual placement and removal of tow bales is avoided.

There also remains an unmet need to minimize downtime of tow conditioning apparatus (and the associated filter rod forming machinery) arising from depleting and replacing individual bales of tow, one after another individually.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,186 to Gumar discloses a system wherein a trailing end of a running tow of material is spliced to the leader of a fresh bale of tow, such that the system cooperates with a first bale and a second bale. However, because of the impact of the spliced section of tow upon product quality, the system includes additional complicating device for detecting and removing the spliced section from the product flow.

Accordingly, there is a need for improving the delivery of tow from bales to a tow-conditioning apparatus in a manner that avoids imposing further complication in the operation and internal mechanics of the tow-conditioning apparatus.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of operating a filter rod making machine comprising disposing a plurality of stations laterally of the filter making machine, placing a bale of tow at each of the laterally disposed plurality of stations, drawing tow from above each of the placed plurality of bales into the filter rod making machine in succession, and upon depletion of tow from the placed plurality of bales, replacing the depleted plurality of bales as a set.

In an embodiment, the drawing of tow may include, for each bale, drawing tow from above the respective bale with a station guide operative at the respective, laterally disposed station and drawing the tow transversely from the respective station guide to a machine-based guide adjacent the filter rod making machine.

The method may further comprise drawing the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom of the filter rod making machine with the machine-based guide.

In embodiments, the replacement of the depleted bales may comprise using a motorized mobile lift to remove the depleted bales from the plurality of stations, respectively, and to place the replacement bales at each of the plurality of stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided. The replacement of the depleted plurality of bales as a set may comprise a simultaneous replacement of the depleted bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.

The drawing of the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom may include receiving the transversely drawn tow through a transverse guide ring of the machine-based guide and/or receiving the vertically drawn tow through a vertical guide ring of the machine-based guide, and/or transitioning the transversely drawn tow to the vertically drawn tow with a roller of the machine-based guide that may be operatively disposed between the transverse and vertical guide rings.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a filter rod making operation comprising supporting a machine-based guide from a filter rod making machine at a location and orientation relative to a boom of the filter rod making machine such that the machine-based guide introduces tow to the filter rod making machine vertically, allocating a first location adjacent the filter rod making machine as a first station suited for placement of a first tow bale, allocating a second floor space location adjacent the filter rod making machine as a second station suited for placement of a second tow bale, placing the first and second tow bales at the first and second stations, respectively, feeding a first continuous ribbon of tow from the first tow bale into the filter rod making machine by vertically drawing the first continuous ribbon of tow from the first tow bale through a first station guide operative at the first station and transversely drawing the first continuous ribbon of tow from the first station guide to the machine-based guide. The method further includes, upon depletion of tow from the first tow bale, feeding a second continuous ribbon of tow from the second tow bale into the filter rod making machine by: vertically drawing the second continuous ribbon of tow from tow bale through a second station guide operative at the second station, transversely drawing the second continuous ribbon of tow from the second station guide to the machine-based guide and upon depletion of tow from the second tow bale, replacing the first and second bales as a set at the first and second stations, respectively.

In embodiments, the introduction of the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom includes receiving the transversely drawn tow through a transverse guide ring, receiving the vertically introduced tow through a vertical guide ring, and/or transitioning the transversely drawn tow to the vertically introduced tow with a roller that may be operatively disposed between the transverse and vertical guide ring. The filter rod making machine may be a single filter rod making machine.

In embodiments, the replacement of the first and second bales may comprise using a motorized mobile lift to remove the depleted first and second bales from the first and second stations, respectively, and to place of the replacement first and second bales at the first and second stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided. The replacement of the first and second bales as a set may comprise a simultaneous replacement of the first and second bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.

A further aspect of the disclosure provides a filter making system comprising a filter rod making machine comprising a boom, a machine-based guide supported from the filter rod making machine at a location and orientation relative to the boom of the filter rod making machine such that the machine-based guide introduces tow to the filter rod making machine vertically and consistent with an operational requirement of the filter rod making machine, a first station comprising a first location suited for placement of a first tow bale adjacent the filter rod making machine, and a first station guide operatively disposed at the first location to vertically draw a first continuous ribbon of tow from the first tow bale and to direct the first continuous ribbon of tow transversely to the machine-based guide, whereby a first continuous ribbon of tow is feedable from the first tow bale into the filter rod making machine. The filter making system further comprises a second station comprising a second location suited for placement of a second tow bale adjacent the filter rod making machine, a second station guide operatively disposed at the second station to vertically draw a second continuous ribbon of tow from the second tow bale and to direct the second continuous ribbon of tow transversely to the machine-based guide, whereby the second continuous ribbon of tow is feedable from the second tow bale into the filter rod making machine upon cessation of the feeding of the first continuous ribbon of tow, with the first and second stations being arranged to facilitate replacement of the first and second bales as a set.

In embodiments, the machine-based guide comprises a transverse guide element for transversely receiving the first and second continuous ribbons of tow in succession and/or the machine-based guide may further comprise a vertical guide element for vertically directing the first and second continuous ribbons of tow in succession into the filter rod making machine and/or a roller operatively disposed between the transverse guide element and the vertical guide element.

The arrangement to feed tow may further comprise an armature for fixedly supporting the roller, the transverse guide element and the vertical guide element from the boom.

The system may further comprise a motorized mobile lift, with the motorized mobile lift and the first and second stations mutually arranged to facilitate removal of the depleted first and second bales from the first and second stations, respectively, and placement of replacement first and second bales at the first and second stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided. The replacement of the first and second bales as a set may comprise a simultaneous replacement of the first and second bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.

Further aspects of the disclosure provides a corresponding boom assembly of a filter rod making machine and a filter rod making machine comprising a rod forming section, a tow conditioning section, and a tow feeding arrangement comprising the corresponding boom assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The forms disclosed herein are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings by way of example, and not by way of limitation, and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side planar view of a filter rod making machine including a tow conditioning apparatus, a plurality of bales of tow (one being shown in cross-section) and a system for feeding tow from each of the bales to the tow conditioning apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top planar view of the filter rod making machine, the bales and the system for feeding tow shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the machine-based guide assembly of the system for feeding tow shown in FIG. 1, as viewed in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a station guide assembly of the system for feeding tow shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a station guide assembly of the system for feeding tow shown in FIG. 1, as viewed in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a representation of an exemplary feed path of tow from a tow bale into a tow conditioning apparatus when using the system for feeding tow shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a top planar representation of a system for producing filter rods incorporating the system for feeding tow shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Each of the following terms written in singular grammatical form: “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used herein, may also refer to, and encompass, a plurality of the stated entity or object, unless otherwise specifically defined or stated herein, or, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the phrases “a device,” “an assembly,” “a mechanism,” “a component,” and “an element,” as used herein, may also refer to, and encompass, a plurality of devices, a plurality of assemblies, a plurality of mechanisms, a plurality of components, and a plurality of elements, respectively.

Each of the following terms: “includes,” “including,” “has,” “'having,” “comprises,” and “comprising,” and, their linguistic or grammatical variants, derivatives, and/or conjugates, as used herein, means “including, but not limited to.”

Throughout the illustrative description, the examples, and the appended claims, a numerical value of a parameter, feature, object, or dimension, may be stated or described in terms of a numerical range format. It is to be fully understood that the stated numerical range format is provided for illustrating implementation of the forms disclosed herein, and is not to be understood or construed as inflexibly limiting the scope of the forms disclosed herein.

Moreover, for stating or describing a numerical range, the phrase “in a range of between about a first numerical value and about a second numerical value,” is considered equivalent to, and means the same as, the phrase “in a range of from about a first numerical value to about a second numerical value,” and, thus, the two equivalently meaning phrases may be used interchangeably.

It is to be understood that the various forms disclosed herein are not limited in their application to the details of the order or sequence, and number, of steps or procedures, and sub-steps or sub-procedures, of operation or implementation of forms of the method or to the details of type, composition, construction, arrangement, order and number of the system, system sub-units, devices, assemblies, sub-assemblies, mechanisms, structures, components, elements, and configurations, and, peripheral equipment, utilities, accessories, and materials of forms of the system, set forth in the following illustrative description, accompanying drawings, and examples, unless otherwise specifically stated herein. The apparatus, systems and methods disclosed herein can be practiced or implemented according to various other alternative forms and in various other alternative ways.

It is also to be understood that all technical and scientific words, terms, and/or phrases, used herein throughout the present disclosure have either the identical or similar meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise specifically defined or stated herein. Phraseology, terminology, and, notation, employed herein throughout the present disclosure are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the present disclosure provides a filter rod making system 10 comprising a tow conditioning section (machine) 12, a continuous rod forming section 14, a knife section 16 which repetitively severs the continuous rod 18 produced by the rod forming section 14 into a plurality of filter rods 20 of a desired length and configuration. The output of the tow conditioning section 12 may be drawn into the rod forming section 14 through a conical entrance (shoe) 22. In embodiments, the tow conditioning section 12 may include one or more sets of cooperating rollers 24, 24′ for stretching the tow and one or more applicators 26 for applying agents to the tow such as plasticizers, flavorants and/or other agents. Their operation places a ribbon (strip) of tow 28 into a desired condition for filter rod making in the rod making section 14. Adjacent the entrance end 30 of the tow conditioning section 12, a boom (wand) 32 is suspended from its lower end at a fixed support 37, which may be mounted to the tow conditioning section 12 itself or affixed to the flooring adjacent the entrance end 30 of the tow conditioning section 12. The boom 32 may support a rotatable idler roller 34 operatively disposed at an upper end portion 36 of the boom 32. A fixed, low friction guide may be deployed at the boom 32 in lieu of or in addition to the idler roller 34. In embodiments, a vertically drawn section 28 a of the ribbon of tow 28 is drawn over the idler roller 36 before entering the entrance end 30 of the tow conditioning section 12. It is desirable that the vertically drawn section 28 a have an orientation relative to the tow conditioning section 12 (and the idler roller 34) such that consistent and proper operation tow conditioning section 12 is promoted.

The filter rod making system 10 further comprises a system 40 for delivering tow from a plurality of tow bales 42 a, 42 b, 42 c in succession and replacing them as a set upon their depletion. In embodiments, each tow bale 42 may comprise a body of highly compacted tow 44 and a container 45, and the container 45 may comprise a box constructed of a heavy cardboard. It is noted that the teachings herein are equally applicable to tow bales 42 lacking a container, wherein the body of highly compacted tow 44 is self supporting.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment, the tow delivering system 40 may comprise a machine-based guide assembly 46 that may be supported from the boom 32 of the tow conditioning section 12 and a plurality of station guide assemblies (transfer rollers) 48 a, 48 b, 48 c which may be each suspended over a bale station 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, respectively, by means of a support armature or other mechanical convenience 52 a, 52 b, 52 c, respectively, from a ceiling of the production facility or a wall 53 thereof. The bale stations 50 a, 50 b, 50 c may constitute the little more than a designated space on the floor of the production facility, which may be outlined with tape or paint to facilitate consistent placement and replacement of tow bales 42 a, 42 b, 42 c at the respective bale stations 50 a, 50 b, 50 c. In embodiments, the stations 50 a, 50 b, 50 c may be located behind and spaced from the filter rod making system 10, the front 54 of the filter rod making system 10 being the side which is faced by an operator 56 during operation of the system 10. In embodiments, the respective bale stations 50 a, 50 b, 50 c may be in a row or other mutual alignment and may comprise two or more than three stations in lieu or in addition to the three shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Whatever the number and however the stations 50, 50 b (or more) may be mutually arranged (regularly or irregularly), a guide assembly 48 a, 48 b (or more) is suspended centrally over each of the stations 50, 50 b (or more), with the stations 50, 50 b (or more) being positioned such that a clear line of communication (transfer path) 58 a, 58 b (or more) may be established between each of the respective station guide 48 a, 48 b (or more) and the machine-based guide 46, along which the ribbon of tow 28 may be drawn in a direction T from the respective station guide 48 a, 48 b (or more) to the machine-based guide 46 without interference. Being located centrally over the respective station 50, each respective station guide 48 may draw tow in a generally vertical direction from the respective bale 46, which is conducive to drawing the tow from the bale 46 in a desired orientation with minimum risk of snags and breakage.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, the machine-based guide assembly 46 may comprise a transverse roller 60, and in other embodiments, may further comprise a first, transversely directing guide ring 62 for slidingly receiving a ribbon of tow 28 moving transversely along one of the paths of communication (transfer paths) 58, a second vertically directing guide ring 64 for slidingly receiving the ribbon of tow 28 once the ribbon of tow 28 has been turned into a vertical direction F by reason of the tow ribbon 28 being drawn about the roller 60. In embodiments, the roller 60 and the first and second guide rings are supported from an armature 66, which may be attached to the boom by a suit suitable connection 68.

In embodiments, the machine-based guide 46 is fixedly located below the idler roller 34 of the boom 32 such that the idler roller 34 receives the ribbon of tow 28 as prescribed for proper operation of the tow conditioning section 12, such that the ribbon of tow 28 enters the tow conditioning section 12 along the usual prescribed path for the particular model of the tow conditioning section 12 (such as Hauni AF1 of Korber AG). In embodiments, the armature 66 may be extendable and the connections 68 may be pivotal about a generally vertical axis so as to facilitate adjustment of the relative position of the machine-based guide 46 with respect to the end portion 36 and roller 34 of the boom 32. In embodiments, the armature 68 fixedly mounted to the boom 32 such that it moves up and down with the boom 32 as the latter pivots up and down.

Referring now to FIG. 4A in embodiments, each of the station guide assemblies 48 may comprise a transfer roller 60′ that is supported from a ceiling 69 or a wall of the production facility directly above each respective stations 50. During operations, the roller rotates about a horizontal axis as the ribbon of tow 28 is drawn about the roller 60′. The roller 60′ may mounted with a suitable coupling 61 such that the roller 60′ may be pivoted freely 360 degrees about a vertical axis 63 to assure proper alignment of the roller 60′ with machine based guide assembly 46. In this embodiment, a ribbon of tow 28 is drawn in a generally vertical direction M from the respective bale 42 to the roller 60′, whereupon the ribbon of tow 28 is turned by the roller 60′ and is drawn transversely along a transfer path of communication 58 in the direction T toward the machine-based guide assembly 46. The rotational freedom of the roller 60′ assures alignment of the ribbon 28 along desired transfer path 58. It is foreseeable that although the transfer path 58 may extend transversely, it may be inclined (and accordingly may include a vertical component). It is also foreseeable that additional roller assemblies and/or supports may be provided along the transfer path 58, particularly, if the transfer path 58 is extended along a significant distance.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, in other embodiments, one or more of the station guide assemblies 48 may comprise the same mechanical elements that comprise the machine-based guide assembly 46, except that may be flipped over such that at each station guide assembly 48, the ribbon of tow 28 is drawn from the respective bale 42 through a vertically directing ring guide 64′ in a generally vertical direction M toward the roller 60′, whereupon the ribbon of tow 28 is turned by the roller 60′ and drawn transversely along a transfer path 58 in the direction T through a transversely directing guide ring 62′. The support armature 66′ may be directly connected by a suitable connection 68′ to a ceiling 69 or a wall 53 of the production facility or to a shaft 70 extending from either. In embodiments, the support armature 66′ and the connection 68′ may be adjustable so as to facilitate proper placement of the station guide assembly 48 over the respective station 50 (and/or the bale 42 placed at the respective station 50). In embodiments, the roller 60′ may be mounted to the support armature 66′ by a suitable coupling such that the roller 60′, together with guide rings 62′ and 64′, may be provided rotational freedom about a vertical axis 63′ so as to help assure that the ribbon 28 progresses along the desired transfer path 58.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the tow delivery system 40 establishes a path 80 from the tow bale 42 a (of a plurality of tow bales 42) to the entrance 30 of the tow conditioning section 12. The tow path 80 may comprise a generally vertical path portion 81 along which tow is drawn in the direction M into the station guide assembly 48, whereupon it is turned to be drawn in a transverse direction T from the station guide assembly 48 to the machine-based guide 46, whereupon it is again turned and directed in a vertical direction F toward the idler roller 34 of the boom 32. The aforementioned routing and directions along the path 80 provide a desired withdrawal of tow from each bale 42 and a desired presentation of the ribbon of tow 28 beneath the boom 32 consistent with operational requirements of the tow conditioning section 12.

In embodiments, the position of the machine-based guide assembly 46 may be adjusted to accommodate space for a tow treatment unit adjacent the idler roller 34, such as a blower 74 for initiating the blooming of the ribbon of tow 28.

Upon depletion of tow from the first bale 42 a, its container 45 a may be left in place while the system 10 is shut-down and the leader 82 of the next bale 42 b is threaded along the path 80 as previously described using the respective station guide 48 b associated with the bale 42 b and its station 50 b. The system 10 is restarted and continues to operate until the tow of the second bale 42 b is depleted. These operations may be repeated until all bales of the plurality of bales 42 are depleted.

Referring now also to FIG. 6, upon depletion of all the bales 42, some or all of the bales 42 may be removed as a set by a single motorized carrier (motorized lift) 83 having sets of forks 84, 84′ sufficient to pick up each of the empty containers 45 of the depleted bales 42 as a set and to move them to a recycling/reconditioning center 86 at the production facility or the like such that the containers 45 may be reused or discarded. In embodiments, the motorized carrier 83 may have the capacity to move all of the empty containers 45 simultaneously as a set or have a more limited capacity requiring the motorized carrier 83 to make several trips to complete the removal of the empty containers 45 as a set.

Upon removal of the containers from the stations 50, the same or a different motorized carrier 83 may deliver fresh, replacement bales 42 to the various stations at the particular system 10 as a set while the system 10 remains shutdown. Should production management desire only two bales of production to be run at a particular system 10, then the replacement bale set may include only two replacement bales 42 a and 42 b to be placed at stations 50 a and 50 b, respectively or at other stations 50 of the system 10, if desired. If a longer production run is contemplated, additional fresh, replacement bales would be placed at remaining stations 50 as part of the replacement set. Whatever its number, the replacement set may be set in place at the respective stations 50 simultaneously by a single trip of the motorized lift 83 or may require several trips of the motorized lift 83 between an inventory/warehouse center 88 of the facility and the tow conditioning section 12 of the filter rod making system 10.

Accordingly, with a filter rod making system 10 configured as described in reference to FIG. 6, machine downtime may be reduced, because the replacement of the bales 42 as a set may be executed during a single shutdown in contrast to having to shut down the system 10 repeatedly for each bale 42 as proposed under prior practices. With the employment of mechanized lift 83 in the removal of the depleted set of bales 42 (which may constitute their empty containers 45) and their replacement with a set of fresh bales 42 to the stations 50, the need for manual manipulation of any of the depleted and/or fresh bales is avoided. This avoidance is further facilitated by locating the stations 50 laterally (behind or in front of) the tow conditioning section 12 so that they are approachable by the mechanized lift 83, in contrast to locating an individual single bale adjacent the entrance end 30 of the tow conditioning section 12 under the boom 42.

PCT 1. A method of operating a filter rod making machine comprising: disposing a plurality of stations laterally of the filter making machine; placing a bale of tow at each of the laterally disposed plurality of stations; drawing tow from above each of the placed plurality of bales into the filter rod making machine in succession; and upon depletion of tow from the placed plurality of bales, replacing the depleted plurality of bales as a set.

PCT 2. The method of PCT 1, wherein the drawing of tow includes for each bale drawing tow from above the respective bale with a station guide operative at the respective, laterally disposed station and drawing the tow transversely from the respective station guide to a machine-based guide adjacent the filter rod making machine.

PCT 3. The method of PCT 2, further comprising drawing the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom of the filter rod making machine through the machine-based guide.

PCT 4. The method of PCT 2, wherein the replacement of the depleted bales comprises using a motorized mobile lift to remove the depleted bales from the plurality of stations, respectively, and to place the replacement bales at each of the plurality of stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided.

PCT 5. The method of PCT 4, wherein the replacement of the depleted plurality of bales as a set comprises a simultaneous replacement of the depleted bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.

PCT 6. The method of PCT 3, wherein the drawing the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom includes: receiving the transversely drawn tow through a transverse guide ring of the machine-based guide; receiving the vertically drawn tow through a vertical guide ring of the machine-based guide; and transitioning the transversely drawn tow to the vertically drawn tow with a roller of the machine-based guide operatively disposed between the transverse and vertical guide rings.

PCT 7. A filter making system comprising: a filter rod making machine comprising a boom; a machine-based guide supported from the filter rod making machine at a location and orientation relative to the boom of the filter rod making machine such that the machine-based guide introduces tow to the filter rod making machine vertically and consistent with an operational requirement of the filter rod making machine; a first station comprising: a first location suited for placement of a first tow bale adjacent the filter rod making machine; and a first station guide operatively disposed at the first location to vertically draw a first continuous ribbon of tow from the first tow bale and to direct the first continuous ribbon of tow transversely to the machine-based guide; whereby a first continuous ribbon of tow is feedable from the first tow bale into the filter rod making machine; a second station comprising: a second location suited for placement of a second tow bale adjacent the filter rod making machine; a second station guide operatively disposed at the second station to vertically draw a second continuous ribbon of tow from the second tow bale and to direct the second continuous ribbon of tow transversely to the machine-based guide; whereby the second continuous ribbon of tow is feedable from the second tow bale into the filter rod making machine upon cessation of the feeding of the first continuous ribbon of tow; the first and second stations being arranged to facilitate replacement of the first and second bales as a set.

PCT 8. The system of PCT 7, wherein the machine-based guide comprises a transverse guide element for transversely receiving the first and second continuous ribbons of tow in succession.

PCT 9. The system of PCT 8, wherein the machine-based guide further comprises a vertical guide element for vertical directing the first and second continuous ribbons of tow in succession into the filter rod making machine.

PCT 10. The system of PCT 9, wherein the machine-based guide further comprises a roller operatively disposed between the transverse guide element and the vertical guide element.

PCT 11. The system of PCT 10, wherein the arrangement to feed further comprises an armature for fixedly supporting the roller, the transverse guide element and the vertical guide element from the boom.

PCT 12. The system of PCT 7, further comprising a motorized mobile lift, the motorized mobile lift and the first and second stations mutually arranged to facilitate removal of the depleted first and second bales from the first and second stations, respectively, and placement of replacement first and second bales at the first and second stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided.

PCT 13. The operation of PCT 12, wherein the replacement of the first and second bales as a set comprises a simultaneous replacement of the first and second bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.

PCT 14. A boom assembly of a filter rod making machine comprising: a first guide oriented and arranged to guide a ribbon of tow being drawn in a vertical direction toward the upper end portion of a boom of the filter rod making machine; a second guide oriented and arranged to receive a ribbon of tow being drawn from any of a plurality of predetermined locations of tow bales and to guide the received ribbon along a feed path to a roller location; a roller at the roller location oriented and arranged to redirect ribbon of tow from the direction of the feed path of the second ring guide into the vertical direction of the first ring guide; whereby ribbons of tow may be received by the assembly from any of a plurality of tow bales in a manner consistent with tow feeding requirements of the filter rod making machine.

PCT 15. The boom assembly of PCT 14, further comprising a support arm arranged to support the first guide, the second guide and the roller from an intermediate location along the boom

While the present invention has been described and illustrated by reference to particular embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention lends itself to variations not necessarily illustrated herein. For this reason, then, reference should be made solely to the appended claims for purposes of determining the true scope of the present invention. 

We claim:
 1. A method of operating a filter rod making machine comprising: disposing a plurality of stations laterally of the filter making machine; placing a bale of tow at each of the laterally disposed plurality of stations; drawing tow from above each of the placed plurality of bales into the filter rod making machine in succession; and upon depletion of tow from the placed plurality of bales, replacing the depleted plurality of bales as a set.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the drawing of tow includes for each bale drawing tow from above the respective bale with a station guide operative at the respective, laterally disposed station and drawing the tow transversely from the respective station guide to a machine-based guide adjacent the filter rod making machine.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising drawing the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom of the filter rod making machine through the machine-based guide.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the replacement of the depleted bales comprises using a motorized mobile lift to remove the depleted bales from the plurality of stations, respectively, and to place the replacement bales at each of the plurality of stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the replacement of the depleted plurality of bales as a set comprises a simultaneous replacement of the depleted bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the drawing the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom includes: receiving the transversely drawn tow through a transverse guide ring of the machine-based guide; receiving the vertically drawn tow through a vertical guide ring of the machine-based guide; and transitioning the transversely drawn tow to the vertically drawn tow with a roller of the machine-based guide operatively disposed between the transverse and vertical guide rings.
 7. A filter rod making operation comprising: supporting a machine-based guide from a filter rod making machine at a location and orientation relative to a boom of the filter rod making machine such that the machine-based guide introduces tow to the filter rod making machine vertically; allocating a first location adjacent the filter rod making machine as a first station suited for placement of a first tow bale; allocating a second floor space location adjacent the filter rod making machine as a second station suited for placement of a second tow bale; placing the first and second tow bales at the first and second stations, respectively; feeding a first continuous ribbon of tow from the first tow bale into the filter rod making machine by: vertically drawing the first continuous ribbon of tow from the first tow bale through a first station guide operative at the first station; and transversely drawing the first continuous ribbon of tow from the first station guide to the machine-based guide; upon depletion of tow from the first tow bale, feeding a second continuous ribbon of tow from the second tow bale into the filter rod making machine by: vertically drawing the second continuous ribbon of tow from tow bale through a second station guide operative at the second station; and transversely drawing the second continuous ribbon of tow from the second station guide to the machine-based guide; and upon depletion of tow from the second tow bale, replacing the first and second bales at the first and second stations as a set, respectively.
 8. The operation of claim 7, wherein the introduction of the tow vertically to an end portion of a boom includes: receiving the transversely drawn tow through a transverse guide ring; receiving the vertically introduced tow through a vertical guide ring; and transitioning the transversely drawn tow to the vertically introduced tow with a roller operatively disposed between the transverse and vertical guide rings.
 9. The operation of claim 7, wherein the filter rod making machine is a single filter rod making machine.
 10. The operation of claim 7, wherein the replacement of the first and second bales comprises using a motorized mobile lift to remove the depleted first and second bales from the first and second stations, respectively, and to place of the replacement first and second bales at the first and second stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided.
 11. The operation of claim 10, wherein the replacement of the first and second bales as a set comprises a simultaneous replacement of the first and second bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.
 12. A filter making system comprising: a filter rod making machine comprising a boom; a machine-based guide supported from the filter rod making machine at a location and orientation relative to the boom of the filter rod making machine such that the machine-based guide introduces tow to the filter rod making machine vertically and consistent with an operational requirement of the filter rod making machine; a first station comprising: a first location suited for placement of a first tow bale adjacent the filter rod making machine; and a first station guide operatively disposed at the first location to vertically draw a first continuous ribbon of tow from the first tow bale and to direct the first continuous ribbon of tow transversely to the machine-based guide; whereby a first continuous ribbon of tow is feedable from the first tow bale into the filter rod making machine; a second station comprising: a second location suited for placement of a second tow bale adjacent the filter rod making machine; a second station guide operatively disposed at the second station to vertically draw a second continuous ribbon of tow from the second tow bale and to direct the second continuous ribbon of tow transversely to the machine-based guide; whereby the second continuous ribbon of tow is feedable from the second tow bale into the filter rod making machine upon cessation of the feeding of the first continuous ribbon of tow; the first and second stations being arranged to facilitate replacement of the first and second bales as a set.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the machine-based guide comprises a transverse guide element for transversely receiving the first and second continuous ribbons of tow in succession.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the machine-based guide further comprises a vertical guide element for vertical directing the first and second continuous ribbons of tow in succession into the filter rod making machine.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the machine-based guide further comprises a roller operatively disposed between the transverse guide element and the vertical guide element.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the arrangement to feed further comprises an armature for fixedly supporting the roller, the transverse guide element and the vertical guide element from the boom.
 17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a motorized mobile lift, the motorized mobile lift and the first and second stations mutually arranged to facilitate removal of the depleted first and second bales from the first and second stations, respectively, and placement of replacement first and second bales at the first and second stations, respectively, whereby unassisted movement of bales by personnel may be avoided.
 18. The operation of claim 17, wherein the replacement of the first and second bales as a set comprises a simultaneous replacement of the first and second bales, whereby down-time of the filter rod making machine during operations may be reduced.
 19. A boom assembly of a filter rod making machine comprising: a first guide oriented and arranged to guide a ribbon of tow being drawn in a vertical direction toward the upper end portion of a boom of the filter rod making machine; a second guide oriented and arranged to receive a ribbon of tow being drawn from any of a plurality of predetermined locations of tow bales and to guide the received ribbon along a feed path to a roller location; a roller at the roller location oriented and arranged to redirect ribbon of tow from the direction of the feed path of the second ring guide into the vertical direction of the first ring guide; whereby ribbons of tow may be received by the assembly from any of a plurality of tow bales in a manner consistent with tow feeding requirements of the filter rod making machine.
 20. The boom assembly of claim 19, further comprising a support arm arranged to support the first guide, the second guide and the roller from an intermediate location along the boom.
 21. The boom assembly of claim 20, wherein the first and second guides and the roller are fixedly supported by the support arm.
 22. The boom assembly of claim 21, wherein the first and second guides comprise first and second ring guides, respectively.
 23. A filter rod making machine comprising: a rod forming section; a tow conditioning section; and a tow feeding arrangement comprising the boom assembly of claim
 19. 